Over 45 years, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) tracked indicators in 117 countries to understand which policies benefitted agriculture and development. Now, their groundbreaking report has found that successful agricultural transformation in a country depends on the quantity and quality of land available, existing demographic pressures, and implementation of a mix of appropriate policies.
Policy and Organizing
In case you missed it: Watch the NYC Food Tank Summit on Food Loss and Food Waste
In case you missed it, you can watch the full NYC Summit on Food Loss and Food Waste on YouTube. Questions from the audience and engaging dialogue among speakers and panelists helped generate new ideas and spark action towards combating food loss and food waste from within communities, cities, and governments.
Opinion | The Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Organic Agriculture
Instead of investing billions of dollars in a model that doesn’t nourish communities or the environment, policymakers must redirect funds to incentivize organic and conservation agriculture — a far more effective approach to improving food security, environmental sustainability and human health.
Scotland Pushes for a Good Food Nation Bill
Struggling with obesity and food insecurity, Scotland may have a great opportunity to become a good food nation. The Scottish Food Coalition has been campaigning for a Good Food Nation Bill to ensure everyone has access to healthy food.
Opinion | New Campaign Launches to Change the Recipe for Foodservice
The Community Coalition for Real Meals wants to reorient the food business model away from “Big Food” and toward “Real Food”—food that supports producers, equity, and the environment.
Creating a Common Language to Solve Hidden Costs of Food System
Dr. Jes Weiglet, shares his thoughts on the role of the TEEBAgriFood framework in the creation of a common language in the agriculture system. He shows the hidden health care and environmental costs of cheap food, and how a collaborative effort can help realize the true cost of cheap food.
Vote With Your Wallet and Change the Food System
Dr. Gunars Platais discusses the complexity of economics in the food system. He shows how every decision in the food system has both intended and unintended consequences and that an integrated approach can increase public interest in the food system.
Going Forward By Going Back: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet
Plant biodiversity is rapidly declining and little research has been invested in sustainable and nutritious indigenous crops, which can lead to improved health outcomes and increased food security.
PRIME Act Passage Would Help Small Meat Producers Compete, Advocates Say
Many small farmers have to haul their livestock hours away to have them processed. Allowing the sale of meat from smaller, local slaughterhouses could help sustainable farms compete with huge corporations—but is it safe?
Nourished Planet: Sustainability in the Global Food System: Q&A with Editor Danielle Nierenberg
Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, discusses her work building transparent and strong communication between all players in the food system. Breaking these barriers and taking action will result in an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable food system.
Big Food Can Do Better: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet, Publishing in June 2018
Children and teenagers are the biggest targets of junk food advertising because they are easy to influence and have large spending potential now and in the future. Junk food marketed to children has long term public health consequences.
The European Union aims to halve food waste by 2030
On April 18, 2018 the European Union passed the first ever European-wide legislation on food waste.
The True Cost of Food: An Excerpt from Nourished Planet, Publishing in June 2018
Agriculture affects the environment, health, fair labor, employment, food security, and many other aspects of society. Nourished Planet explores new approaches like true cost accounting, to quantify the true cost of the food system as a way to catalyze change in the current system.
What does a Plan B For Europe’s fragmented food system look like?
Key food and agriculture stakeholders are working together to develop an integrated food policy for Europe, intended to bridge the gaps of the EU’s fragmented food system
Urgent Call for EU Agricultural Policy Reforms Sends Food Leaders to Forum
The EU Food and Farming Forum on May 29–30, 2018 gathers food leaders in Brussels to create a Plan B to EU agricultural policies.
New Documentary Explores the Impacts of Factory Farming
“Eating Animals,” a new documentary directed by Christopher Quinn, explores the economic, environmental, and health impacts of factory farming and its far-reaching effects on consumers, small farmers, and animals.
Opinion | The 2018 Farm Bill Battle Lines Have Been Drawn: Here’s What You Can Do
Every four years, a new Farm Bill must be passed by the U.S. Congress. This massive piece of legislation covers many different aspects of food and agriculture in the United States—from nutritional assistance for low-income communities to subsidies for farmers to conservation of natural resources.